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Police still looking for driver of stolen truck

By: Lara Yamada

Published On: Feb 21 2013 08:35:00 PM HST

HONOLULU -

On Wednesday, a suspected murderer went on the run from a prison transport van outside Circuit Court, and Thursday morning, a wild car chase ended just footsteps away, launching another manhunt for two suspects near Restaurant Row.

"Yeah, oh my god, it was really close," said Darin Padula, who was walking nearby.

"The truck almost hit us," said Esparanza Obrero, who was walking in a crosswalk and nearly got hit.

Just after 1 p.m., in an area surrounded by restaurants, businesses, and courthouses, a stunner for folks who barely saw what was coming.

"We heard the police car coming and we never saw the truck, then all of a sudden we looked behind because there's a Big Bang," say Obrero.

It was the crash after the chase.

Honolulu police officers said a black black Dodge pickup was stolen sometime this morning in Kailua.

They started getting calls of attempted car-break ins at Makapuu around noon.

Then they caught up with the suspects on the Pali Highway headed toward Honolulu.

Witnesses said the pickup was flying down Punchbowl, lost control at Pohukaina, narrowly missing Esperanza Obrero in the crosswalk.

"It must have been 50 or 60 miles an hour. Way to fast to make the corner and they shot up over the curb," said Padula.

"Then two guys get out of the car and started running," said Obrero.

Witnesses saw the two suspects take off through Restaurant Row, through the garage, then pop out the other side.

Officers caught one suspect: a 30 year old man.

The entire commotion turned out to be exhausting for people still reeling from Wednesday's manhunt for escapee Teddy Munet.

"Yesterday was a very bad day and today we got the same thing again," said Joven Miranda.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said Sunday it was "very alarmed" by reports of widespread doping by track and field athletes in major competitions including the Olympic Games and world championships.